Free Bottled Up: April Fools For Love by Roxy Mews Page A

was saying. “Are you homeless?”
    She shrugged. “Might be tomorrow. Needless to say, my mind hasn’t been very focused on the shop lately. Ang has really stepped up to take charge, and I owe her a serious raise. Or a promotion. Probably both. Maybe that will keep her quiet if I have to start living in the office.”
    “You can’t be serious.”
    “It’s either that or my car. Do you think the alarm company would believe me if I told them I was going to be working on an all night inventory project?”
    “Not for more than a night. Don’t you have anyone you could stay with?”
    Twila shook her head. “I don’t have many friends. Don’t get me wrong, I have my squad who I go to the clubs with or go shopping with, but they are more waterbug besties.”
    Nate gave her a confused look. “Waterbug besties?”
    “You know. They skate along the surface, but never really get their feet wet with real emotion.”
    New slang term for five hundred, Alex.
    “What about Angela?”
    “What about her?”
    “You two seem friendly, maybe she would let you crash on her couch for a few nights?”
    Twila shook her head. “I’m technically her boss. I can’t do that.”
    “You wouldn’t be if you promoted her.”
    “Let’s just go to the bank.”
    Nate knew well and good when he was being told to drop a subject, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t text about it. He had Angela’s phone number in his call list from when she’d needed a shift covered a couple days ago. As Twila walked up to the deposit drop with his headlights on her, he told as much of the story as he could in a text. He got a response as soon as Twila slammed his passenger door shut.
    “I’ve got you a place.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
    Betty could not believe she was grabbing extra sheets to turn their couch into a bed for the boss Ang complained about on the daily.
    “So why is she homeless?” Betty tried asking again. She couldn’t wrap her mind around how a high-end boutique manager could be hurting for cash.
    “I don’t know, but Nate said she was going to sleep in her car if she didn’t have a place to stay. I’m not her biggest fan, but I’m not letting someone I know go without a bed when I can help. Do we have any extra pillows?”
    Betty always slept with three, so she grabbed one for Twila to use.
    They hadn’t been in the club for ten minutes when Ang had grabbed her hand and said they had to go. Being that Betty hadn’t moved from the bar and was having the opposite of fun, she’d let herself be pulled out toward the car.
    Ang’s text from Nate hadn’t had a whole lot of information, but it was obvious he was busy dealing with something because he’d flat out said he would text when they got there and hadn’t responded to anything since.
    “Do you think her boyfriend hurt her?” Betty could only think of a few reasons a woman had to get out of her shared home fast, and none of them were good.
    Ang tucked the blanket into the cushions and held out her hand for the pillow Betty had. “I don’t know,” she said, “But I hope not. Otherwise I’ll have to kill the bastard.”
    Betty was pretty sure that wasn’t just an expression.
    Ang’s cell phone buzzed on the table and both women jumped.
    We’re here. Can you come down to the parking lot and help grab some bags?
    Betty went with her roommate and stopped short when Nate got out of the car. Nothing like an awkward reunion with a dude you had dismissed after sex. She stared at him as Ang went up and hugged Twila. She kept staring at him as the two women each grabbed a bag from Nate and went upstairs to get Twila settled.
    Nate waited until they were out of earshot before he said, “I know.”
    “You know what?”
    He pulled the last bag from his trunk and shut the lid. “I know this is weird. I know we just had sex this morning. I know I stormed out. And I know I probably should have taken Twila to my place, but I think she needs some female company right about